/ ˈbɑːgən; NAmE ˈbɑːrgən/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a thing bought for less than the usual price :
I picked up a few good bargains in the sale.
The car was a bargain at that price.
bargain prices
2.
bargain (with sb) an agreement between two or more people or groups, to do sth for each other :
He and his partner had made a bargain to tell each other everything.
I've done what I promised and I expect you to keep your side of the bargain (= do what you agreed in return) .
Finally the two sides struck a bargain (= reached an agreement) .
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IDIOMS
- into the bargain
—more at hard adjective , strike verb
■ verb
[ v ] bargain (with sb) (about / over / for sth) to discuss prices, conditions, etc. with sb in order to reach an agreement that is acceptable
SYN negotiate :
He said he wasn't prepared to bargain.
In the market dealers were bargaining with growers over the price of coffee.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- bargain sth away
- bargain for / on sth
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French bargaine (noun), bargaignier (verb); probably of Germanic origin and related to German borgen borrow.